New study ranks best US states for retirement living. Florida didn’t crack the top 10

Hawaii is the best place to live if you’re retiring, and Oklahoma is the worst.

That’s according to a new study by home care agency 24 Hour Caregivers, which compared the best overall retirement conditions in all 50 states.

The study analyzed air quality, life expectancy, violent crime, environmental quality, Medicaid spending, the proportion of residents aged 65 and older, and nursing home quality across every state.

Each factor was given equal importance before the results were combined into an index score out of 100.

With all of the Snowbirds who come down to Florida, you might be surprised to learn the Sunshine State didn’t crack the top 10 for the best states to retire, according to the study.

Florida came in at No. 14 with a life expectancy average of 77.9 years, Medicaid spending at $4,948 per enrollee and the fourth-highest percentage of population aged 65 or older (21.8%).

Georgia, on the other hand, ranked ninth among the worst states for retirees, despite a stronger natural-environment rank of 20. The study found that nursing home quality placed 45th, Medicaid spending is just $5,015 per enrollee, and only 15.8% of residents are aged 65 or older.

After Hawaii, most of the rest of the top 10 states for retirees are in the New England area, according to the study:

1. Hawaii
2. Rhode Island
3. New Hampshire
4. Massachusetts
5. Maine
6. Vermont
7. Connecticut
8. New York
9. Minnesota
10. New Jersey

“What stands out about Hawaii is that it ranks first despite comparatively low Medicaid spending, because its life expectancy, natural environment and nursing home quality are all exceptionally strong,” said Allen Tahir, founder and CEO of 24 Hour Caregivers.

On the other hand, a majority of the worst 10 states for retirees, including Georgia, are in the South (ranked worst to best):

1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Louisiana
4. Nevada
5. Arkansas
6. Tennessee
7. Illinois
8. Alabama
9. Georgia
10. New Mexico

“Weaker nursing home quality and lower Medicaid spending often appear alongside poor health or safety outcomes,” Tahir said of the bottom 10. “When several of those factors overlap, families may face fewer good care options and more pressure when support is eventually needed.”

According to the study, 24 Hour Caregivers’ home state of California ranked No. 30 overall.

Methodology & sources:

24 Hour Caregivers compared all 50 US states using seven factors linked to retirement:

• Air quality: Average AQI in 2023, sourced from World Population Review using EPA data. Lower scores were considered better.
• Life expectancy: Life expectancy at birth in 2022, sourced from the CDC and National Center for Health Statistics. Higher figures were considered better.
• Violent crime: Violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2024, sourced from USAFacts using FBI data. Lower rates were considered better.
• Natural environment: The 2025 U.S. News Natural Environment ranking, sourced from U.S. News & World Report. A lower rank was considered better.
• Medicaid spending: Annual spending per full-benefit enrollee in FY2023, sourced from KFF State Health Facts. Higher spending was treated as a stronger safety net.
• Population aged 65 and older: The share of each state’s population aged 65-plus in 2024, sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. Higher percentages were treated as more retiree-friendly.
• Nursing home quality: The U.S. News nursing home quality ranking, sourced from U.S. News & World Report. A lower rank was considered better.

Cleaner air, lower crime and stronger U.S. News rankings were treated as better results. Higher life expectancy, Medicaid spending and 65-plus population figures were also scored more positively.

Each state was ranked from best to worst for every factor. The seven rankings were then weighted equally and combined to create the final order.

The results were converted into an index score out of 100, with a higher score representing better overall conditions for retirement.